Hi,i am living in jomtien pattaya,i have 2 years thai driving licence,may i renew my thai driving licence in RAYONG provincial land transport office,expire in november 2026,thank for answers

3 minutes ago, karonbeach said:

may i renew my thai driving licence in RAYONG provincial land transport office,expire in november 2026

Yes, of course

A bit off topic - but perhaps of interest.

I went to the Phuket transport office today, hoping to get an International Driver's license, on the basis of my Thai drivers licence. I plan to rent a car drive in Canada later this month, so I wanted the International Driver's licence.

There is a 'screening desk' that everyone must go through first, at the Phuket transport driving licence section. They immediately noted my Thai Driver's license expired in January-2027. No problem i said, I only need the international driver's licence for September. i can come back again in January-2027 and renew my Thai driver's licence then.

No - they advised - to renew one's Thailand driver licence, in Phuket, it is booked months in advance. They advised i book ASAP else i may not be successful to book for January 2027 for a driver's licence renewal. Ok- this is Thailand, I agreed, make me an appointment for January ... No. They made me an appointment for October this year to renew my Thai driver' license ... over 2 months before my licence expires.

Then back on topic why i went to transport - I want an International Driver's Licence.

Well, they stated i could not get an international Driver's licence (yet), because my Thai driver's license was obtained based on my "pink" Thai ID, and not based on my passport. The licence reflects my "pink" ID which has my name only in they Thai language. They stated I would need to return to Transport, the following day (tomorrow) or later this week, and have my driver's license re-issued (but only issued valid to January-2027 as that is when my driver's license expires) and the updated driver's licence must instead reference my passport. Only then would they issue me an International Driver's Licence based on my Thai driver's license which then references my passport.

I queried that, where i noted they would issue my Thai wife an international driver's licence, based on her Thai ID. So this was unfair !!

No.

They pointed out that her Thai ID, is in both Thai and English !! (something i confess i didn't know), while my pink-ID, is only in Thai language.

They claimed since the International Drivers licence references both Thai driver's license, and the Thai ID, all had to have English language. My pink-ID didn't qualify and given my Thai Driver's license referenced my pink-ID, my Thai driver's licence also didn't qualify for the International driver's licence.

Go figure.

Anyway, so later this week, I will likely head back with Yellow Book, Pink-ID (meeting my certificate of residence criteria) with my Passport, and they will issue me an updated Thai driver's licence, valid ONLY until January-2027. The new Thai driver's licence will reference my Passport (which by the way expires in a couple of years, in July-2028), and only then will they issue me an International Thai driver's licence.

Then in October, (after my Canada visit) I need to return to obtain a new Thai driver's licence (to replace mine that expires in Jan-2027). And further, given my passport expires in July-2028, i will again in June/July-2028 (after obtaining a new passport) have to go back to the department of transport, and get my Thai driver's licence update again so that it references the new passport.

That's 1 renewal and 2 updates in less than 2 years.

What can I say? This is Thailand.

@oldcpu that was an interesting adventure, thanks for sharing, and yes it is Thailand...!

I read with interest as I also enquired about getting a pink ID, but it was so complicated I gave up - also need minimum 6 month valid visa for that...!

I also wanted to get international driving permit to ride abroad, so I was waiting for you to say can not get one when licence expire less than a year, as usually those permits are valid for a year, so do you know if your permit will only be valid till Jan 2027...?

One good thing would be when you renew your licence it will be 5 years from Jan 2027, and not Oct 2026, I guess that's nice of them... 😉

My current headache is changing address on both licences and the green book, insurance etc. , so far not bothered... (all need a lot of paperwork). Sometimes I think we should give in to the big brother society with a chip inserted up the neverland, so they know who we are and where we go and what we do at all times..., maybe less hassle...!? 🫣🤔

1 minute ago, Agusts said:

@oldcpu that was an interesting adventure, thanks for sharing, and yes it is Thailand...!

I read with interest as I also enquired about getting a pink ID, but it was so complicated I gave up - also need minimum 6 month valid visa for that...!

I also wanted to get international driving permit to ride abroad, so I was waiting for you to say can not get one when licence expire less than a year, as usually those permits are valid for a year, so do you know if your permit will only be valid till Jan 2027...?

One good thing would be when you renew your licence it will be 5 years from Jan 2027, and not Oct 2026, I guess that's nice of them... 😉

My current headache is changing address on both licences and the green book, insurance etc. , so far not bothered... (all need a lot of paperwork). Sometimes I think we should give in to the big brother society with a chip inserted up the neverland, so they know who we are and where we go and what we do at all times..., maybe less hassle...!? 🫣🤔

All the international driving permit does is validate your home nation's driving licence.......or am I teaching you to suck eggs?

A 5-year Thai licence is written in English as well as Thai, so surely can be used overseas? It can in the UK, but perhaps other countries have different rules.

12 hours ago, MIke B Bad said:

All the international driving permit does is validate your home nation's driving licence.......or am I teaching you to suck eggs?

Thailand is my home.

I have not lived in Canada for 1 year short of 3 decades. i no longer have a Canadian driver's licence.

I do have a German driver's licence - but same issue there - I would need an international driver's licence associated with it, .. and i don't want to fly to Germany, just to get a German international driver's licence ... lol !!

So at present, for a Canadian car rental, i can only show a Thai, or a German driver's licence, but not (yet) an International driver's licence.

Anyway ... it not over yet ... i will see what happens in coming days.

.

12 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

A 5-year Thai licence is written in English as well as Thai, so surely can be used overseas? It can in the UK, but perhaps other countries have different rules.

Indeed. i had issues in New Zealand and Australia, until i flashed my international driver's licence. I don't know what will happen in Canada. The website where i booked a Canadian rental car from stated get an International Driver's licence - but who knows if that really accurate?

On 9/1/2026 at 5:13 PM, oldcpu said:

Anyway, so later this week, I will likely head back with Yellow Book, Pink-ID (meeting my certificate of residence criteria) with my Passport, and they will issue me an updated Thai driver's licence, valid ONLY until January-2027. The new Thai driver's licence will reference my Passport (which by the way expires in a couple of years, in July-2028), and only then will they issue me an International Thai driver's licence.

So today I went to Phuket transport office, and exchanged my old Thai Driver's licence (which referenced my pink-ID #) for a new Thai Driver's license (which references my Passport #). Cost was around 50 baht. The entire process took about 2 hours. The office was very crowded. I needed

• old Thai driver's licence (that has pink-ID # referenced)

• passport and 2 photocopies of my LTR visa and 2 photocopies of my last entry to Thailand stamp in my passport

• Yellow book (in lieu of a Certificate of Residence) and 2 photocopies of yellow book appropriate page

• Pink-ID (together with Yellow book, in lieu of a Certificate of Residence) and 2 photo copies of pink-ID (both sides of "ID") .

My 'new Thai driver's licence' still expires, in January-2027 (on same date as the old licence). So in January, "I will be back" (to get a new licence to replace this new one when it expires).

Phuket transport office for handling drivers licences is typically a crowded "zoo" and today was no exception. Regardless, I am constantly impressed as to how polite and professional the staff at that office are, as they are incredibly busy and efficient to handle the large numbers of people.

Some trivia - Last year, when i went for an International Driver's licence, they did not require all of this - and they accepted my old driver's licence (that referenced my Pink-ID). What surprised me this year, was a couple of the staff at Transport Office remembered me from last year. Major shock on my part, as I thought all falang look alike ... ( lol ... just kidding).

Next - possibly early next week, i will return to the Transport Office, and apply for the International driver's licence, based on my new Thai driver's licence.

I still don't understand why all this was necessary given last year it was not necessary ... but ? .. .well ... This is Thailand.

Edited September 3Sep 3 by oldcpu

On 9/1/2026 at 9:43 PM, MIke B Bad said:

All the international driving permit does is validate your home nation's driving licence.......or am I teaching you to suck eggs?

As you replied to my post, what the hell does this even mean...!?

I have had international driving permit many times over the years and used it in many different countries on my travels, just not got one from Thailand yet. Have you...?

If you don't have any useful info to add better not post anything, or are you on the mission to get many "likes" and large number of "posts" awards...! Good luck...

10 hours ago, Agusts said:

As you replied to my post, what the hell does this even mean...!?

I have had international driving permit many times over the years and used it in many different countries on my travels, just not got one from Thailand yet. Have you...?

If you don't have any useful info to add better not post anything, or are you on the mission to get many "likes" and large number of "posts" awards...! Good luck...

Cretin.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a UN‑standardised translation booklet that converts your domestic driving licence into multiple languages so foreign police, rental companies, and border officers can read and verify your driving rights. It is not a standalone licence — it only works when carried together with your original licence.

On 9/3/2026 at 7:51 PM, oldcpu said:

Next - possibly early next week, i will return to the Transport Office, and apply for the International driver's licence, based on my new Thai driver's licence.

I went to the Phuket transport office today. i arrived at about 2:15 pm. My international driver's licence was ready... I picked it and left, out of the office by about 2:20pm. .... As on previous visits, the staff at the Phuket office are efficient, very polite and courteous.

On 9/3/2026 at 7:51 PM, oldcpu said:

I still don't understand why all this was necessary given last year it was not necessary ... but ? .. .well ... This is Thailand.

This was the first occasion for me - where using a 'pink-ID', was a disadvantage.

When I renew my Thai driver's license later this year - I will use my passport and not my pink-ID (as I anticipate I may also want an updated International Driver's License) in some future years as well.

On 9/5/2026 at 1:13 AM, Agusts said:

As you replied to my post, what the hell does this even mean...!?

I have had international driving permit many times over the years and used it in many different countries on my travels, just not got one from Thailand yet. Have you...?

If you don't have any useful info to add better not post anything, or are you on the mission to get many "likes" and large number of "posts" awards...! Good luck...

Many people confuse an IDP with legal permission to drive. He was just clarifying the rules to help others. The world is not all about you.

You can. I have renewed mine twice in two different provinces.